Thank you to all of my wonderful customers! I appreciate your business very much and am grateful that you chose to shop in my corner of the internet! I am looking forward to serving you this year and have many great plans for Box Thirteen and mountains of book treasures to present in the shop in 2016!
May we all build grand libraries and fill our homes with the handsomely bound volumes from generations past! Happy New Year to you all!
Some seasons are especially suited for certain genres of books and everyting about fall, from chilly nights and falling leaves to deepening shadows and wool coats and tweeds, call for a mystery. Vintage mysteries and detective books–ones that were published in the era of class that these stories took place in– are among the very best. For those of you shopping for a fall birthday (or early Christmas gift) or looking for a book to read by the fire on a crisp night here are a few suggestions.
Sherlock Holmes by Sir A. Conan Doyle, Although all of his Sherlock Holmes adventures are not equal to each other, some being far superior to others, most of them are worth pursuing and are quite a pleasant way to spend an evening. There is a reason why they appear on every mystery list.
The Red House Mystery by A.A Milne, the famed author of Winnie The Pooh was (unknown to many) an excellent craftsman of a good “murder in the mansion” whodunit. Originally published in 1922 this fun book deserves to be reintroduced to this generation. Set in the delightful grounds of a British mansion and sure to keep you guessing! The dedication in the front of the book reads:
“To John Vine Milne My Dear Father, Like all really nice people you have a weakness for detective stories and feel that there are not enough of them. So, after all that you have done for me, the least that I can do for you is to write you one. Here it is– with more gratitude and affection than I can well put down here. ~A. A. Milne”
The Problem Of Cell 13 by Jacques Futrelle, this short story deals with a detective that makes a bet that a man who uses his brain can escape from ANY prison cell, and to prove it they can place him in the highest security cell they have and he will be out in a week….
This is such a sweet story!I found a copy of this book in an old bookshop and purchased it, eventually I picked it up and started reading and I am so glad I did.
In many ways it reminded me of the book “Mother” by Kathleen Norris, not in the message for this one is not about motherhood, but in the way that it was a charming book with several good lessons strongly woven into a delightful story. The lessons of this volume are are based on the theme of elderly relations and old age. It covers many points, some of them being: idleness and life of leisure in aged folks vs. industry, work, and dominion. The duty towards, and honor for an elderly relative that folks have. The BEAUTY of old age, and of acting one’s age and part in life. And the list goes on…all of it told within a fun story!
There are some words used in this book that have changed meaning since the days of this book that are nowadays considered derogatory and offensive to some, but to lovers of history and old books who understand the days gone by and the etymology of the times it will constitute no problem whatsoever. 🙂
This book is finding a permanent home on my shelves and I would highly suggest that you find an antique copy for your reading list! A delightful tale of generations learning to work together!
~Written by Emma Speed Sampson (who also wrote under the pseudonym of Nell Speed)
Imagine that a complete stranger walked into your house when you were away. As they walked past your bookshelves and gazed at the choice books that you selected to occupy them what conclusions would they draw about the kind of person your are? What is the message your books send?
Henry Van Till once said “Culture is religion externalized”. Your religion is proclaimed by the culture you create in your life and in your home, and one of the most bold revelations of your worldview and what you deem important is your library (or the lack thereof).
All over America you can see shelves of books that amount to nothing more that fluff, indoctrinated history, cheap romances, mindless escapism, immoral “classics”, entertainment, poor art, and a bad writing style. The message that those books whisper are “I’m here to relax”, “I need to escape from work and life”, I’m addicted to the thrill of mental romance and affairs”, ” I have no higher goal in life than to entertain myself, fantasize, and dream”…..and so on.
Once upon a time that was not so.
The libraries of our founding fathers and mothers were nation changing libraries of individuals who had a distinct purpose in life, principled men and women with goals who amassed books filled with the knowledge and resources to carry out their plans and educate themselves.
As a Christian young lady I want my library to be stocked with the tools to help me carry out my missions and plans. And to be a worthy collection of high quality books that will stand the test of time and last for generations among my friends and descendants. I want to fill my library with books that will delight a vigorous mind and well disciplined tastes; volumes on history, theology, culture, music, law, art, science, biographies, economics, warfare, education, etiquette, practical skills, and a well stocked stack of reference materials to assist in the art of writing, along with a choice selection of great, inspiring fiction and literature. The kind of library that would state “I have an exciting and grand purpose in life”, “The world will be different because of my life”, “I’m not here to dream and drift with the tides”, “Here their be dragons…and dragon slayers!”, “I’m changing culture”, “My time is too valuable to waste”, “I delight in work and dominion” etc. In short, a library filled with the kind of books that leave our stranger with the impression that the house’s occupant surely must be away on important business or an outstanding adventure.
Your books do speak. They tell people:
Who you admire
What you value
What your tastes are
What you believe
What you aspire to in life
One does not need to be a Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple to deduce those things.
I recently stumbled across several dusty treasures and among them was this turn-of-the-century book for girls–published in 1914!
I debated for over a week on whether I should keep it and read it myself or list it in the shop, but I finally decided to share it with my customers. So here it is!
It has several black and white drawings that are nestled in the pages and a delight to come across. It would make a splendid surprise gift for a girl!
The scene: Paris, France~ June 1940. Two women–Etta, an American, and Kitty, an Englishwoman, are fleeing Paris as the German army invades France. Unable to get out of the city, they are forced to return and live under Nazi rule. There is only one problem: they have an English pilot in the luggage compartment of their car. Hiding him in their apartment is dangerous enough, but when other English soldiers start to use their apartment as a station on their escape route, normal things become deadly risks. Especially when a German soldier takes a shine to Kitty, and at unexpected times shows up at their apartment!
This book is written by Etta Shiber, and was first published in 1943, after she was exchanged for a German prisoner that the Americans held captive.
A tense, gripping story. It reads like a novel, but was all too true. An amazing portrait of Paris and first had account of what life was like in France under the Nazi regime. It is also a story of great personal courage and noble, selfless living.
A favorite quote of mine from the book is when an English pilot who is in hostile territory and surrounded on all sides by his mortal enemies who want to slaughter him, finds the kindness of a friend:
He sighed. “You’re both wonderful,” he said “I guess the world hasn’t gone to the dogs after all. No matter where you go or what happens, you always find nice people everywhere.”
When Mother reads aloud, the past
Seems real as every day;
I hear the tramp of armies vast;
I see the spears and lances cast;
I join the thrilling fray;
Brave knights and ladies fair and proud
I meet when Mother reads aloud.
When Mother reads aloud, far lands
Seem very near and true;
I cross the desert’s gleaming sands,
Or hunt the jungles’ prowling bands,
Or sail the ocean blue;
Far heights, whose peaks the cold mists shroud,
I scale, when Mother reads aloud.
When Mother reads aloud, I long
For noble deeds to do—
To help the right, redress the wrong;
It seems so easy to be strong,
So simple to be true.
Oh, thick and fast the visions crowd
When Mother reads aloud.
~Author Unknown
